Universal Orlando 9/11/2010

This is the first of two updates today. This one is going to focus on a few changes that have taken place at Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure. We'll be posting a separate update of Halloween Horror Nights preparations a bit later. We're also working on a few different stories focusing on lesser-known details. All of these changes are based on feedback. We're working to make this blog as great as it can be. If this is your first visit, welcome. If you've visited us before, welcome back! Either way, we're glad you're here. Now, on to the parks!

Universal Studios Florida is in the midst of their annual Rock the Universe event.

A temporary check-in location for the brave adults who will be chaperoning all of the youth groups attending Rock the Universe.

The skeletons we showed you last week have been temporarily covered up, so as not to distract from the more wholesome atmosphere of Rock the Universe.

The same thing has happend to the "Prop Warehouse" on Hollywood Blvd.

Projectors (top left) and large screens (right) provide a better view for guests in the back of the crowd for RTU concert performances.

A closer view of one of the projectors mounted atop Mel's Drive In.

The stage between Mel's and Central Park.

Jesus loves you, and he also loves intellectual property rights.

Another feature of Rock the Universe is the "mycokerewards.com Live" karaoke stage. 

The Music Plaza stage is now flanked by LED screens playing promotional videos for the event.

Another projector set-up on the edge of the Music Plaza facing New York (this photo was taken last week before the screen was installed).

This is also the last week of "Family Feud" tapings, featuring the show's new host Steve Harvey.

Guests line up for tickets to "Family Feud" at the Studio Audience Center.

A "production assistant" was inviting guests to experience the Feud near the park's main entrance. A longer video of the spiel is available on our YouTube channel.

Of course, there's more to being a studio audience member than just sitting in an air-conditioned soundstage. (We got this instruction sheet with our tickets last week, when the "families" were groups of TNA wrestlers.)

Speaking of sitting down in air-conditioning, there have been some minor changes to Universal's Horror Makeup Show. References to "Van Helsing," the 2004 Universal release that pitted Hugh Jackman against an army of monsters, have been removed. In their place are references to "The Wolf Man," last year's Universal release that pitted Benicio Del Toro and Anthony Hopkins against the moviegoing public.

Some things never get old.

At CityWalk, Hard Rock Live's LED marquee is being refurbished. In its place are a banner and a smaller LED screen.

Over at Islands of Adventure, it looks like the bridge that was built to bypass construction for The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been converted to a backstage area that can be opened up for guest traffic during peak attendance days. It will be used the next time park officials need to limit the flow of guests into the land.

Signage directing crowds to the left at Fire Eaters Grill has been removed...

...because turning left at Fire Eaters Grill will result in bumping into a closed gate.

"Team Members Only."

The new gate by the JP Discovery Center doing its job.

That's all for now. We'll be posting new photos of preparations for Halloween Horror Nights XX later today. As always your feedback is appreciated, so feel free to drop us a line at pulluponyourlapbar@gmail.com.